Sinker operating cams for circular knitting machines

ABSTRACT

The sinker operating cams at each feed of a multiple feed circular knitting machine are mounted upon a slide, the slides are supported by and are movable radially of the sinker cam ring of the machine whereby the slides and the sinker operating cams thereon may be selectively moved at each of the feeds to each of a pair of radial positions. An annular plate circumferentially movable to three angular positions atop the sinker cam ring is operatively related to a tappet on each of the slides whereby in one position of the plate all of the slides are in their outer radial position, in a second position of the plate alternate slides only are in their inner radial position, and in the third position of the plate all of the slides are in their inner radial position.

United States Patent 1191 Bianchi SINKER OPERATING CAMS FOR CIRCULARKNITTING MACHINES [75] Inventor: Massimo Bianchi, Firenze, Italy [73]Assignee: G. Billi & C.S.p.A., Firenze, Italy [22] Filed: July 15, 197121 Appl. No.2 163,007

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 4/1967 Great Britain 66/108 R[111 3,783,645 Jan. 8, 1974 Primary Examiner-W. C. Reynolds AssistantExaminerAndrew M. Falik Attorney-Louis Necho 57 ABSTRACT The sinkeroperating cams at each feed of a multiple feed circular knitting machineare mounted upon a slide, the slides are supported by and are movableradially of the sinker cam ring of the machine whereby the slides andthe sinker operating cams thereon may be selectively moved at each ofthe feeds to each of a pair of radial positions. An annular platecircumferentially movable to three angular positions atop the sinker camring is operatively related to a tappet on each of the slides whereby inone position of the plate all of the slides are in their outer radialposition, in a second position of the plate alternate slides only are intheir inner radial position, and in the third position of the plate allof the slides are in their inner radial position.

5 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures FENTEU 3.783.645

sum 1 or 6 PATENTED 3. 783 ,645

MU 5 Br" 6 SINKER OPERATING CAMS FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Thepresent invention relates generally to the art of knitting and moreparticularly to novel construction provide a novel construction of thesinker operating cams at each feed of a multi-feed circular knittingmachine and to provide selective control thereof whereby the sinkeroperating cams are positionable in each of two radial positions, in thesecond of which the sinkers are moved inwardly a greater distance thanin the first position thereof.

It is also an object of the present invention to operate four feeds of acircular knitting machine having the sinker cam construction and controlmeans of the present invention at each of the four feeds, and havingneedle selecting means to select needles to knit or tuck at each of thefour feeds whereby plain stitches are formed on all the needles at thefirst and third feeds with the sinker cams in said first positionthereof,.

whereby plain stitches are formed on alternate needles, and tuckstitches are formed on intervening needles at the second feed with thesinker cams in said second position thereof, and whereby plain stitchesare formed on intervening needles and tuck stitches are formed onalternate needles at the fourth feed with the sinker cams in said secondposition thereof.

The sinker operating means at each feed of the machine are supporteduponand are movable with a slide which is supported by and movable radiallyin the sinker cam ring of the machine. An annularly shaped plate iscircumferentially movable atop the sinker cam ring to a plurality ofangular positions, the plate being operatively related to the slides ateach of the feeds to selectively place the latter and the sinker camsthereon in each of a pair of radially different sinker operatingpositions, depending upon the angular position of the annularplate.

"With the above and other objects of the invention in view, as will beapparent from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof to be read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the invention resides in the novel construction of the sinkeroperating cams and the selective control thereof as set forth in theaccompanying specification and in the appended claims.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a portion of the sinker camring of the present invention, the portion of the sinker ring shownbeing associated with five knitting stations or feeds of an eight-feedcircular knitting machine.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the sinker cam ring of FIG. 1 showingthe sinker operating cams.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a detail of the sinker cam ring of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view as taken on line IV IV of FIG. 3 andalso showing the adjacent portions of the needle cylinder and associatedparts of a circular knitting machine.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view as taken on line V V of FIG. 4.

, FIG. 6 is an enlarged stitch diagram of a fabric made with theapparatus of the present invention, the arrangement of the stitchesbeing repeated in four course sequences.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the feeding of a first yarn to theneedles of a circle of needles of the machine for a first course of thefabric of FIG. 6 with all the needles in latch clearing position.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the stitches of a first course of thefabric of FIG. 6 as formed by the yarn and the needles of FIG. 7 withthe sinkers in a first or normal position.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG.'7 showing the feeding of a second yarnto the needles for a second course of the fabric of FIG. 6 withalternate ones of the needles in latch clearing position and withintervening ones of the needles in tuck position.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing the course of stitches ofFIG. 8 and the stitches of a second course of the fabric of FIG. 6 asformed by the yarn and needles of FIG. 9 with the sinkers in a second oradvanced position.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the feeding of a third yarnto the needles for a third course of the fabric of FIG. 6.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIGS. 8 and 10, showing the courses ofstitches of FIGS. 8 and 10 and the stitches of a third course of thefabric of FIG. 6 as formed by the yarn and needles of FIG. 11 with thesinkers in their first or regular position.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the feeding of a fourth yarnto the needles for a fourth course of the fabric of FIG. 6 with thealternate ones of the needles now in tuck position and with interveningones of the needles now in latch clearing position.

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIGS. 8, l0 and 12 showing the courses ofstitches of FIGS. 8, 10 and 12 and the stitches of a fourth course ofthe fabric of FIG. 6 as formed by the yarn and needles of FIG. 13 withthe sinkers in their second or advanced position, and

FIG. 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the top ofthe needle cylinder and associated portions of the sinker ring showingthe relationship of the needles to the sinkers in each of the twopositions of the latter during the formation of the fabric of FIG. 6.

The fabric of FIG. 6 is preferably made upon a multifeed circularindependent latch needle hosiery knitting machine, although it may alsobe made upon other machines. The stitches of this fabric are arranged ina four course sequence and accordingly the number of feeds on themachine is a multiple of four. The yarns at the first and third feedsare fed to all the needles in their .latch clearing position, while atthe second feed the clearing position. At the same time, at the firstand third feeds the sinkers are moved radially inwardly to their regularinward position, while at the second and fourth feeds the sinkers aremoved radially inwardly to an advanced inward position to form longerstitches and to abnormally tension the stitches so that certain onesthereof which have been formed at the first and third feeds are enlargedthereby causing others of the stitches formed at the first and thirdfeeds to be made substantially smaller, even to the point of becomingunknitted or unlooped, whereby the fabric of FIG. 6 is made to besubstantially run-proof.

The means to selectively control the neeldes in tuck and in latchclearing (or knit) positions at each of the four feeds is conventionaland this invention is directed to novel means to control the movementsof the sinkers at each of the four feeds.

In FIG. 1, the portion of the sinkercam ring shown is for five feeds ofan eight-feed circular machine wherein the successive like portions ofthe sinker cam ring at stations A, B, C and D are provided for fourcorresponding feeds of the machine. It will be understood that theremaining four like portions of the complete sinker ring, of which oneportion is shown at station E, are provided for the remaining four feedsof the machine. In the machine, FIGS. 4 and 15, the needle cylinderitself which may be of the revolving type, is shown at 1 with a circleof vertically extending independent latch needles 3 arranged formovement in slots in the needle cylinder.

A radially slotted annular inner sinker bed 5 is secured inwardly of andto the upper end of cylinder 1. A radially slotted annular outer sinkerbed 7 is secured to an annular ring 8 formed as part of the needlecylinder and extending outwardly therefrom adjacent to its upper end.The inner edge of the bed 7 overlaps the upper face of ring 8 and issecured in place by means of an annular clamping plate 9, the inner edgeof which overlaps the lower face of ring 8, the plate 9 being secured tobed 7 by circumferentially spaced screws 11 extending through suitableapertures in ring 9 and into threaded engagement with bed 7. A circularseries of sinkers 13 are adapted to move radially of the cylinder in theslots of beds 5 and 7, the sinkers alternating with the needles. Arelatively small annular spring band 15 in engagement with depressionsformed in the tail ends of the sinkers are adapted to normally urge thesinkers radially inwardly of the cylinder. Each sinker has a butt 13Aextending above the sinker slots by means of which the sinkers may bemoved along their slots. The sinker beds 5 and 7 revolve with the needlecylinder.

Surrounding sinker bed 7 is a stationary sinker cam ring or cap 17containing the cams which actuate the sinkers. Centering rollers 19 maybe interposed between sinker bed 7 and sinker cam ring 17. At each ofthe several like portions of the sinker cap, stations A through E, aswell as at the portions of the sinker cap not shown, for each feed ofthe machine the sinker cap is radially slotted to accommodate a radiallymovable T-shaped slide 21 therein. A crosswise extending stop plate 23is secured to the outer face of each slide 21 by a screw 23A extendingthrough plate 23 into threaded engagement with the slide. The slide isurged radially outwardly by a pair of spaced compression springs 25, 25,on each side of slide 21 in contact with the inner side of plate 23 anddisposed in suitable apertures in the cam ring 17. An adjustable outwardstop position for each slide 21 is provided by the head of an adjustablescrew 27 which extends freely through a suitable opening in plate 23 andinto threaded engagement with the sinker cap 17, the springs 25 urgingslide 21 outwardly to a position in which plate 23 contacts and isstopped by the under side of the head of screw 27.

A pair of spaced inner and outer cams 29 and 31, providing a cam trackor pathway 33 therebetween for the sinker butts 13A, are secured to theunderside of each slide 21 by screws 30 and 32, respectively, the screwspassing through slide 21 into threaded engagement with the cams. Theundersurface of each cam 31 is undercut as at 31C and into which aradially movable thin cam 31A is placed, the cam 31A being movableradially to a limited extent relative to a screw 31D extending through aradial slot in the cam 31A and into threaded engagement with cam 31. Thecam 31A is spring urged radially inwardly by a small spring 318 anchoredon the screw 31D and exerting inward pressure against a pair of spacedscrews 31E on each side of screw 31D and threadedly engaged in cam 31A.The function of cams 31A is to move the sinkers inwardly and at the sametime to exert a yielding pressure thereon via contact with their butts13A. The sinker butts 13A travel in the cam paths 33 at each feed of themachine wherein the cams 29 move the sinkers outwardly and the earns 31and 31A move them inwardly.

The normal position of slides 21 with their cams 29, 31, 31A, and campathway 33 to provide normal sinker movement for the knitting of normalstitches may be obtained at each feed by suitable radial adjustment ofthe slides 21 thereat, such adjustment being made by turning screws 27.In addition to such normal sinker movement it is desirable for theknitting of the fabric of FIG. 6 that the sinker movement be changed atalternate feeds to move the sinkers further inward thereat whileretaining normal sinker movements at the intervening feeds. This isaccomplished by a special radially inward positioning of the slides 21at the alternate feeds of the machine by means to be set forth. Themeans to be set forth is also capable of radial inward movement of theslides at all of the feeds of the machine as may be desired when afabric of larger stitches is to be made.

Each slide 21 is provided on its upper side with an upwardly extendingdisc like eccentric tappet 35 which is secured in angularly adjustedposition to the slide by a screw 34 extending freely through an offcenter hole therein and into threaded engagement with the slide.Disposed in an annular groove 17A, FIG. 15, formed in the upper face ofcam ring 17, is a circumferentially slidable annular sinker control ringor plate 37 which is movable to at least three positions. To this end,plate 37 is provided with an upwardly extending pin 39 adapted to beengaged by an arm of pivoted lever 41, the other arm of which isattached by cable 43 to suitable cams on the pattern drum of themachine. A tension spring 42, FIG. 1, suitably anchored to the cam ring17 and to the plate 27 urges the latter in clockwise direction against asuitable stop, not shown, to retain plate 37 in its first position ofFIG. 1 wherein pin 39 is in its full line position. By the action of thecams on the pattern drum of the machine, lever 41 acts upon pin 39 tomove plate 37 counter clockwise to a second and to a third positioncorresponding to the dotted line positions 39X and 39Y of pin 39.

A circumferentially extending slotted opening is provided in plate 37 ateach of the sinker stations A through E for co-operation with tappets 35of slides 21 to move the latter inwardly as may be required at each ofthe feeds of the machine. One such opening is shown inFIG. 3 in whichplate 37 is in its first position of FIG. 1. The outer edge 36 isdisposed so as to be spaced from tappet 35 and have no effect upon theslide 21, whereas outer edge 38 is so disposed as to engage tappet 35when plate 37 is moved counter clockwise to its second and thirdpositions and to move slide 21 inwardly, the tappet sliding alongincline 37B as it moves toward 37A. The opening of FIG. 3 is repeated atstations E, B and D. At the stations A and C, the circumferential extentof the non-engaging surface is greater, as at 36A, so that in the firstand second positions of plate 37 the slides are not moved inwardly.However, at stations A and C, the slides 21 are moved inwardly by outeredges 38A (which are shorter than edges 38) when plate 37 is in itsthird position, the tappets 35 moving along the incline 37C toward theend 37A.

Accordingly, in the first position of plate 37 none of the slides 21 aremoved inwardly and sinkers operate normally for knitting of normalstitch length fabric, in the second position of plate 37 alternate onesof the slides 21 at stations E, B and D are moved inwardly while theslides at stations A and C are not moved inwardly for the knitting ofthe fabric of FIG. 6 in a manner to be set forth, and, in the thirdposition of plate 37 all of the slides 21 are moved inwardly for theknitting of fabric having relatively large stitches. As appears in FIG.15, when the slides 21 are in their normal outward positions, thesinkers 13 are in the position indicated by the dotted outline 13Y ofthe sinker nib and at this time the yarn extending from the throat ofthe sinker nib 13Y to the needle hook is indicated at MY. When theslides are in their forward positions, the sinkers 13 are in full lineposition wherein the nibs thereof are indicated at 13X and the yarnextending from the throat of the sinker nib 13X to the needle hook isindicated at MX. The length of yarn loop MX is greater than that of yarnloop MY.

The operation of the needles and sinkers upon the upon needles N1. Itwill also be noted that the tuck yarns to make the fabric of FIG. 6 isschematically indicated in FIGS. 7 through 14. At this time, all theneedles N1 and N2 are raised to full latch clearing or knit level at thefirst and third feeds as shown in FIGS. 7 and 11, while alternateneedles N1 are raised to latch clearing level and intervening needles N2are raised to tuck level at the second feed as shown in FIG. 9, and,intervening needles N2 are raised to latch clearing level and alternateneedles N1 are raised to tuck level at .the fourth feed as shown in FIG.13. At the same time, plate 37 is in its second position (pin 39 inposition 39X) so that at the first and third feeds (corresponding tosinker stations A and C) the slides 21 are in normal positions to movethe sinkers in to nib positions 13Y of FIG. 15, (positions S1 of thesinkers in FIGS. 8 and 12), while at the second and fourth feeds(corresponding to sinker stations B and D) the slides 21 are in advancedpositions to move the sinkers to nib positions 13X of FIG. 15 (positionsS2 of the sinkers in FIGS. 10 and 14).

A course of plain stitches of yarn F10 of a first stitch length is drawnby the needles N1 and N2 at the first feed, FIG. 7, with the sinkers inposition S1, FIG. 8. It will be understood that this course of stitchesis drawn through the stitches previously upon the needles.

Then, at the second feed, FIG. 9, with the sinkers in position S2, FIG.10, a course of alternate plain and tuck stitches F121 and F122 of yarnF12 of a second and longer stitch length are drawn by the needles N1 andN2, respectively. It will be noted that plain stitches F121 of yarn F12on needles N1 are drawn through forming needles N2 have thereon thepreviously formed plain stitches of yarn F10v and the tuck stitch F122of yarn 12. Since the stitches formed at the second feed are longer thanthose formed at the first feed, the action of the needles N2 in formingthe tuck stitches is to rob yarn from previously formed plain stitchesof yarn F10 which were cast off from needles N1. This is so because theplain stitches of yarn F10 on needles N2 are elongated as the tuckstitches are formed and this robs yarn from the plain stitches of yarnF10 cast off from needles N1. This yam-robbing is sufficient tosubstantially de-knit, unknit or unloop the cast off plain stitch and,one such yam-robbed stitch is shown at F2 in FIG. 6.

The third course of knitting at the third feed, FIG. 1 1, is similar tothe first course of knitting, FIG. 7, except that a third yarn F14 isused. As at FIG. 12, the plain stitches F141 of yarn F14 are drawnthrough the course of tuck and of plain stitches F121 and F122 on theneedles.

The fourth course of knitting at the fourth feed, FIG. 13, is similar tothe second course of knitting, FIG. 9, except that a fourth yarn F16 isused and now the needles N1 form tuck stitches F162 of yarn F16 withplain stitches F141 of yarn F14 while the needles N2 form plain stitchesF161 of yarn F16. As in FIG. 14, the plain stitches on needles N2 aredrawn through plain stitches of yarn F14, while on needles N1 there aretuck stitches F162 of yarn F16 and the plain stitches F141 of yarn F14.In the drawing of the longer length tuck stitches on needles N1 the castoff stitches of yarn F14 from needles N2 are made smaller to the pointof becoming unknitted or unlooped in the manner previously described inrelation to the alternate plain cast off stitches of yarn F10.

In FIG. 6, the plain stitches of yarn F10 are shown at F1 and F2, thelatter stitch having been made smaller by the yam-robbing action ofelongated stitches F1, the latter becoming elongated as they are drawnby the needles along with the longer tuck stitches F122 when the sinkersare in position S2. The plain stitches of yarn F14 are drawn through theplain stitches F121 and through the tuck stitches F122 and plainstitches F1, such plain stitches of yarn F14 being elongated as stitchF141 and made smaller as stitches F142. Then plain stitches F161 of yarnF16 are drawn through stitches F142 and tuck stitches F162 of yarn F16are drawn along with stitches F141 of yarn F14. While the stitches F2and F142 are shown as merely being made smaller, in practice theyam-robbing is sufiicient to completely de-knit these stitches so thatthey become unlooped or unknitted. It is the binding action of thede-knitted stitches upon the stitches previously drawn through them thatcauses the fabric to be ladderproof for all practical purposes.

What I claim is:

1. A circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder, an annularlyshaped sinker bed having a series of radially extending slots therein, acircle of sinkers disposed in and movable lengthwise of said sinkerslots, an

annularly shaped sinker cam ring having cams therein to move saidsinkers toward and away from said needle cylinder, the combinationtherewith of a slide supported by and movable radially of said cam ring,said sinker cam ring including a first and a second cam to move saidsinkers toward said needle cylinder, said first cam being secured tosaid slide and said second cam being supported by said first cam, andsaid second cam being yieldingly movable relative to said first camthereby to exert yielding pressure on said sinkers.

2. A circular knitting machine as in claim 1 wherein said slide isyieldingly urged away from said needle cylinder to a first radialposition thereof and wherein means is provided to move said slideradially toward said needle cylinder from said first radial positionthereof to a second radial position.

3. A circular knitting machine as in claim 2 wherein said machine isprovided with a plurality of feeds and wherein a slide is provided ateach of said feeds.

4. A circular knitting machine as in claim 3 wherein an annularly shapedplate is provided atop said sinker cam ring, said plate beingoperatively related to said slides to move the same, and said platebeing circumferentially movable to a plurality of positions, said platein a first position permitting all of said slides to remain in theirsaid first radial position, said plate in a second position permittingalternate ones of said slides to remain in said first radial positionthereof and to move intervening ones of said slides to said secondradial position thereof, and said plate in a third position thereofmoving all of said slides to said second radial position.

5. A circular knitting machine as in claim 4 wherein each of said slidesis provided with a vertically extending tappet and wherein said plate isprovided with a cam opening for each of said slides, said tappetsextending through said cam openings and being moved thereby to move saidslides when said plate is moved. l l l

1. A circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder, an annularlyshaped sinker bed having a series of radially extending slots therein, acircle of sinkers disposed in and movable lengthwise of said sinkerslots, an annularly shaped sinker cam ring having cams therein to movesaid sinkers toward and away from said needle cylinder, the combinationtherewith of a slide supported by and movable radially of said cam ring,said sinker cam ring including a first and a second cam to move saidsinkers toward said needle cylinder, said first cam being secured tosaid slide and said second cam being supported by said first cam, andsaid second cam being yieldingly movable relative to said first camthereby to exert yielding pressure on said sinkers.
 2. A circularknitting machine as in claim 1 wherein said slide is yieldingly urgedaway from said needle cylinder to a first radial position thereof andwherein means is provided to move said slide radially toward said needlecylinder from said first radial position thereof to a second radialposition.
 3. A circular knitting machine as in claim 2 wherein saidmachine is provided with a plurality of feeds and wherein a slide isprovided at each of said feeds.
 4. A circular knitting machine as inclaim 3 wherein an annularly shaped plate is provided atop said sinkercam ring, said plate being operatively related to said slides to movethe same, and said plate being circumferentially movable to a pluralityof positions, said plate in a first position permitting all of saidslides to remain in their said first radial position, said plate in asecond position permitting alternate ones of said slides to remain insaid first radial position thereof and to move intervening ones of saidslides to said second radial position thereof, and said plate in a thirdposition thereof moving all of said slides to said second radialposition.
 5. A circular knitting machine as in claim 4 wherein each ofsaid slides is provided with a vertically extending tappet and whereinsaid plate is provided with a cam opening for each of said slides, saidtappets extending through said cam oPenings and being moved thereby tomove said slides when said plate is moved.